Dispenser and dispensing head constructed to deliver the contents of a container to a fabric for saturation



Aug. 30, 1 T, w. DEAKERS 2,716,250

DISPENSER AND DISPENSING HEAD CONSTRUCTED T0 DELIVER THE CONTENTS OF A CONTAINER TO A FABRIC FOR SATURATION Filed Aug. 27, 1952 United States Patent Otiice 2,716,256 Patented Aug. 30, 1955 DISPENSER AND DISPENSING HEAD CON- STRUCTED TO DELIVER THE CON- TENTS OF A CONTAINER TO A FABRIC FOR SATURATION Thorpe W. Deakers, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Ever-Dry Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a c0rporation of Nevada Application August 27, 1952, Serial No. 306,555 10 Claims. (Cl. 15-134) This invention relates to a dispenser and the head or cap of the dispenser. The invention is particularly concerned with a dispenser or head or cap for a dispenser which is constructed so as to deliver the contents of a container to a fabric for saturation of the fabric. thereto the invention is particularly designed for use in connection with deodorant solutions and is intended to provide a means for saturating a fabric with a deodorant solution so as to provide a ready means for application of said solution. The invention is an improvement on the dispenser shown by my copending application Serial No. 177,900, filed August 5, 1950, now abandoned.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a dispenser and head for a dispenser which will deliver a solution from a container to and properly satu rate an area of nap material with said solution so that the user may apply the solution by contact therewith. The application of a deodorant solution from a con tainer to the user is accompanied normally with the danger of an excess of deodorant material being applied, which is not only unpleasant to the user but may result in an unnecessary soiling of the garments.

The present invention is directed to providing a dispenser and dispenser head by which the contents may be applied from the container to a particular nap material covering the outlet of the container for properly saturating the same. The invention also includes an arrangement by which excess solution may be rapidly drained from the pad. Associated with the dispenser and head is also a cap so designed as to prevent evaporation of the solution when the dispenser is not in use.

Among the features of the present invention are the provisions of a means for so holding an area of nap material that free drainage is permitted side of the material to avoid over-saturating the same, and the provision of means for shutting off the connection between the fluid contents of the dispenser and the nap materialwhen the same is not in use. Also the provision of a double sealing means for providing a double seal between the The dispenser of the present invention is preferably of the squeeze bottle type designed to operate in an upright position delivering a suitable portion of the contents to the nap material with aspirating action so that free drainage of excess solution is permissible. When the dispenser or dispenser head of the present invention is used in connection with a squeeze bottle there is generally employed a tube from the head leading to a point near the lower end of the bottle so that the dispenser may operate as an aspirator type device. However, the employment of such a tube is not essential to all forms of the invention and the tube may be omitted and the contents of the bottle delivered to the head by inverting the bottle. The dispenser and dispenser head of the While the invention is not necessarily confined from the under- 5 present invention is also designed so that the same is producible out of entire plastic material at a lost cost and in pleasing form.

The dispenser and dispenser head of the present invention, together with further advantages of the invention will be understood from the description of a preferred example of the invention, which description is given in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation mainly in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation with the cap elevated and partially in section; e

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing the cap removed;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spider; V

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the fabric holder;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the clamping ring used in the fabric holder;

Figure 8 is a bottom View substantially on the line 88 of Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section substantially on the line 99 of Figure Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as preferably utilizing a conventional plastic squeeze bottle 2 which has the reduced neck 3 externally threaded as indicated at 4. The sides of the bottle 2 are of plastic material flexible so that by squeezing the sides are adapted to fiex inwardly.

The dispenser head of the present invention comprises the fabric holding body 5 provided with the tubu: lar portion 6, the external diameter of which is intended to have a forced fit with the walls of the neck 3. With: in the tubular extension 6 the holder 5 is provided with another extension 7, the lower part of which is provided with a square hole 8 for receiving the tube 9. The tube 9, in assembled position of the apparatus, extends down to near the lower end of the squeeze bottle 2 and serves as a conduit through which the liquid contents are forced upwardly when the side walls of the bottle 2 are squeezed. The tube 9 has a forced fit in the square opening 8 but as illustrated in Figure 9 there is space'provided for air being drawn up with the liquid in the squeezing operation so that the liquid will be delivered by an aspirating action. A shoulder 10 is pro vided to'limit the insertion of the tube 9 in the square opening 8 and above the square opening there is provided a reduced axial passage 11 for the aspirated solution and air.

The fabric holder is provided with an inverted conical wall 12 through the apex of which the passage 11 extends. At the upper end of the conical wall 12 there is a shoulder 13 provided and the conical wall their connects with the outer cylindrical wall 14 of the holder which is stepped as indicated at 15 connecting with the Wall portion 16 of still larger diameter. The interior of'the wall 14 is provided with a number of vertical lugs 17' which, in assembled position, are intended to cut into the threads 4 on the neck of the squeeze bottle 2 and lock the fabric holder against relative rotation. On the-shoulder 13 0f the holder body is provided the spider member L8 which as indicated is provided with the axially depending pin 19 which, when the cap is removed as viewed in Figure 4, is designed to extend close to the opening 11 but to clear said opening. The spider 18 is made of a flexible material, preferably a flexible plastic material, so, as hereafter described, the

same may yield under presv to be saturated by the solution. This fabric is thus held suspended by the spider 18 as a top covering over a substantially conical shaped chamber 21, so that free drainage from the fabric by gravity is at all times permitted.v No absorbing material is disposed adjacent the fabric. The fabric is preferably of the nap type and also preferably of a most absorbent type of material, such as a plastic nap material. Napped fabrics made of plastics have been found to possess the properties of holding a substantial quantity of solution in position for application without absorbing into the plastic itself such solution. By use of such type of fabric material caking of the fabric by dried solution is avoided.

The fabric material extends not only over the upper face of the holder and spider but extends down the other side of the wall 14 of the holder and is there secured in position by the clamping ring 22. This clamping ring has an internal diameter sufficiently small so that it must be forced downwardly into the position illustrated in Figure 1 and there provides suflicient contact surface to hold the fabric firmly in position. The clamping ring is also preferably provided near its upper end with a belted surface 23 which is adapted to act as a sealing surface.

At the shoulder between the walls 14 and 16 of the fabric holding member are provided a pair of lugs 24 the underface of which are tapered somewhat as indicated at 25. The head also includes the cap member 26 comprising the top wall 27, which preferably has a depending annular projection 28. The top wall is connected with the generally cylindrical side walls 2?, the upper portion of which leads to a shoulder 30, which in the tightened position of the cap is designed for making a sealing contact with the tapered seal 23 on the clamping ring 22. Below said shoulder the side walls of the cap are provided with diametrically oppositely spaced lugs 31 which are designed to pass below the lugs 24 of the fabric holding member so as to permit the tightening of the cap in position by screw action to contact said lugs 31 and the tapered faces 25 of the lugs 24.

When the cap 26 is inserted the annular projection 28 contacts the fabric 20 first forcing that fabric downwardly against the yielding spider 18 until the pin 19 is forced into the opening 11 sealing said opening from any further delivery of fluid from the squeeze bottle. Further downward pressures particularly as the cap is turned with the lugs in contact, squeezes the shoulder 30 into the tapered surface 23 on the clamping ring thereby providing a seal to prevent any evaporation of solution which may be entrained by the fabric material.

When the cap is removed the spider 18 flexes back to open the passage 11 and by squeezing the sides of the squeeze bottle 2 solution is aspirated against the under surface of the fabric saturating the same. The user is protected against an over-saturation of the fabric because the fabric is disposed in free position to permit drainage into the substantially conical chamber below the fabric.

While the particular form of the dispenser and head herein described is well adapted to carry out the objects of the invention various modifications and changes may be made and this invention is of the scope set forth in the appended claims.

- I claim:

1. A head for a liquid dispenser which includes, a fabric-holding member having a rim and inner tapered walls extending therefrom and contracting downwardly to a liquid opening, a fabric extending across the rim and down the sides thereof, a clamping ring clamping the fabric to said rim, there being provided a chamber between the fabric and downwardly tapered walls of the holding member, and a flexible spider member supported by said fabric-holding member and in turn ofiering support for the portion of the fabric crossing said rim, said flexible spider member having a valve head for closing said opening.

2. A dispenser head comprising, a fabric-holding member having a rim, a fabric clamped to said holding member so as to be stretched over said rim, the holding member having a downwardly contracting conical wall from the rim to an opening for liquid, said wall and the fabric stretched over said rim defining a fluid chamber to which said opening is an inlet and a flexible spider supported by said member and in turn providing support for the fabric stretched over said rim, said spider having an extending member movable on being pressed downwardly as a valve head to close said opening.

3. A dispenser head which includes, a fabric-holding member having a cylindrical rim, a fabric having a nap stretched over said rim and extending along the sides thereof, a clamping ring holding the fabric to said rim, the fabric-holding member having downwardly contracting sloping Walls forming, with the fabric stretched over said rim, a fluid chamber, an opening through said walls for fluid to be dispensed to said chamber, and a flexible spider member supported by the fabric-holding member so as to furnish support for the portion of the fabric stretched across said rim, said spider being movable downward under pressure and having a member movable to close said opening.

4. A dispenser head which includes, a fabric-holding member having a cylindrical rim, a fabric having a nap stretched over said rim and extendingalong the sides thereof, a clamping ring holding the fabric to said rim, the fabric-holding member having downwardly contracting sloping walls forming together with the fabric stretched over said rim a fluid chamber, an opening in said walls for fluid to be dispensed to said chamber, a flexible spider member supported by the fabric-holding member so as to furnish support for the portion of the fabric stretched across said rim, said spider being movable downward under pressure and having a member movable to close said opening, and a cap having a sealing engagement with said clamping ring, said cap having a portion for contacting the fabric stretched across said rim for flexing the spider member into the solution cut-off position.

5. A dispenser head which includes, a fabric-holding 46 member having a cylindrical rim, a fabric having a nap stretched over said rim and extending along the sides thereof, a clamping ring holding the fabric to said rim, the fabric-holding member having downwardly sloping contracting walls, together with the fabric stretched over said rim, forming a fluid chamber, an opening in said walls for fluid to be dispensed to said chamber, said fabric-holding member having an opening for introducing liquid to said chamber, and a flexible spider member supported by the fabric-holding member so as to furnish support for the portion of the fabric stretched across said rim, said spider being movable downward under pressure and having a member movable to close said opening, the fabric-holding member having means for attachment to the neck of a squeeze bottle.

6. A dispenser comprising, a squeeze bottle having an outlet, a fabric-holding member at said outlet comprising a rim, a fabric stretched over said rim and clamped thereto, an open chamber being provided underneath the portion of fabric stretched over said rim, said fabric-holding member having an opening for introducing liquid to said chamber, and a supporting flexible spider held by said fabricholding member in position to provide flexible support for the portion of the fabric stretched across said rim, said spider having an extension movable to close said opening.

7. A dispenser comprising, a squeeze bottle having an outlet, a fabric-holding member at said outlet comprising a rim, a fabric stretched over said rim and clamped thereto, an open chamber being provided underneath the portien of fabric stretched over said rim, said fabric-holding member having an opening for introducing liquid to said chamber, a supporting flexible spider held by said fabricholding member in position to provide flexible support for the portion of the fabric stretched across said rim, said spider having an extension movable to close said opening, and a cap for enclosing the fabric and fabric holder, said cap providing a seal having means for contacting the fabric stretched across said rim for flexing the spider into the outlet closed position.

8. A dispenser which is provided with a fabric-holding member at its outlet, an aspirating tube leading to said fabric-holding member, said fabric-holding member including a rim, a fabric stretched across said rim, the fabric-holding member having downwardly contracting walls below said rim which, together with the portion of fabric stretched across said rim, define a substantially open chamber for drainage of fluid from said fabric, a fluid inlet to said chamber through said contracting walls, a flexible spider for adding additional support to the portion of fabric Stretched across said rim, said spider having a member extending substantially to the fluid inlet to said chamoer, the spider being adapted to flex under pressure so as to move said member to close said inlet, and a cap for enclosing the fabric and fabric-holder and adapted for so flexing said spider.

9. A head for a liquid dispenser which includes, a fabric-holding member having a rim and downwardly contracting walls from the rim, a fabric extending across the rim and down the sides thereof, a clamping ring clamping the fabric to said rim, there being provided a chamber Within the rim between the fabric and downwardly contracting walls of the holding member, an aspirating tube connected to said chamber, and a flexible spider member supported by said fabric-holding member and in turn offering support for the portion of the fabric crossing said rim, said flexible spider member having a valve head for controlling the aspiration of solution to the fabric.

10. A dispenser head which includes, a fabric-holding member having a cylindrical rim, a fabric having a nap stretched over said rim and extending along the sides thereof, a clamping ring holding the fabric to said rim, the fabric-holding member having downwardly sloping walls forming a fluid chamber below the stretched fabric,

" an opening for fluid to be dispensed to said chamber, an

aspirating tube connected to said opening, and a flexible spider member supported by the fabric-holding member so as to furnish support for the portion of the fabric stretched across said rim, said spider being movable downward under pressure and having a member movable to close said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 359,527 Wirz Mar. 15, 1887 1,521,546 Kuskin Dec, 30, 1924 2,185,575 Stinson Ian. 2, 1940 2,631,064 Topper Mar. 10, 1953 

